Page 53 of Playing to Win

“Just the once.”

“Are you a slut?”

Andrew blinked hard, his face heating. “Sorry?”

Colin pointed to the cover. “‘Are you a slut?’ it says. ‘Ten surefire signs.’”

“Oh.” Relieved, he grabbed a pair of pens from the coffee table. “Let’s find out.”

They each took the quiz and came out positive, Andrew much more severely so. The chocolate and caffeine, together with the wine they’d shared, stoked their silliness until Andrew felt weak with laughter. He could sense the moment was approaching when they’d take this jovial mood into the bedroom.

Unfortunately, that was when Colin found the August issue. “‘Great Scots: The Toffs, the Tartans, the Castles.’ Are you in this?”

“No, it’s a stupid article.” Andrew tried to snatch the magazine, but Colin swiftly stood up.

“Thought you said you’d not read these.”

“I’ve skimmed.” He cursed himself for not hiding theTatlers before Colin’s arrival. This article could destroy their tenuous peace.

“I want to see what they say about Scotland.” He sat on the sofa and opened the magazine.

“Just remember that like all ofTatler, that article is meant to be tongue-in-cheek. Our sort likes to mock ourselves.”

“Have you got a castle like this?”

Andrew sat beside him and glanced at the page. “No.” His family’s was larger, but he knew better than to mention that now.

Colin began to read. “‘The buggers are out to get us!’” He looked at Andrew. “That’s what you people think of the independence referendum? That it’s all about youse? It’s not the Russian fucking Revolution.” He read on in a high-pitched, mock-posh voice. “‘What if Salmond imposes a mansion tax? We’re done for.’ Aww, ya poor wee babes, how will you ever survive?”

Andrew rubbed his eyes, annoyance overcoming patience. “We’llsurvive fine. It’s people like you who’ll be hurt when an independent Scotland’s economy collapses.”

Colin shut the magazine. “So you agree with those who say we’re ‘too poor, too wee, too stupid’ to govern ourselves?”

Andrew hesitated. “I don’t think we’re too stupid.” He held up a hand. “Listen, I’m a proud Scot, but—”

“Och, here we go. The ‘I’m a proud Scot, but’ line. Heard it a million times from people who finish that sentence by insulting Scotland.”

“I was going to say, I’m a proud Scot but I think much of our strength comes from being part of the United Kingdom.” When Colin rolled his eyes, Andrew said, “The Yes campaign has all the passion, but reality is on our side.”

Colin cocked his head at Andrew, his expression turning from disgust to intrigue. “You really want to do this? Cos I’m not afraid of a debate. In fact, let’s make it official. No prep, no audience, just the two of us, right now. Loser helps the winner campaign for one full day of the winner’s choosing.”

Andrew despised the thought of campaigning on either side, but he couldn’t resist a challenge. “Agreed. And to make things more interesting…” He reached out and drew his fingers down Colin’s wine-and-black-striped tie. “For each point I score, you remove an article of clothing. And vice versa.”

Colin’s eyes sparked. “Strip-debating the referendum? I love it.” He yanked his tie out of Andrew’s hand. “But I’m wearing lots more clothes than you.”

“I can afford to give you a head start. Not only because I’ve the superior arguments, but because in addition to being captain of the diving team at Fettes, I also led the debate team.”

“You’re lying.” Colin drifted his hand over Andrew’s thigh, awakening every nerve in his body. “There never was any diving team at Fettes.”

“Oh dear.” Andrew slipped his shirt over his head and tossed it to the floor. “First point to you.”

CHAPTERFOURTEEN

ANDREWLITTHEcandles he’d set out earlier on both of his bedside tables, as well as atop the row of cupboards arching high over his bed, all the while keeping his back to Colin to hide the fact his hands were trembling.

When he was done, he clicked shut the lighter. “There. We’ll keep it dark so you can’t cheat and look at notes.”

“I don’t need notes.” Colin was scanning the bedroom. “You weren’t joking. You’ve really got three walk-in wardrobes.”

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